Improvement in bird-cages



.l. MUNSGHAUER.

Bird-Cages.

Patented March 11, 1873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. MUNSCHAUER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT m BIRD-CAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,611, dated March 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE JOHN MUNS- CHAUER, of Bufl'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Locking Devices for Bird-Gages, &c., of which the following is a specification: This invention relates to devices for securing the detachable bottoms to bird-cages, 8m;

and consists in providing the common hinged bentwire catch with a sliding self-locking device which prevents the catch from becoming accidentally unclasped or detached, as hereinafter described.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a cage, showing the locking device. Fig. 2 is a plan of the look.

A represents the cage; B, the detachable bottom; and O, the usualbase-piece, over which the bent-wire clasps or hooks D D hold. The clasps are made in the usual manner and hinged to the detachable bottom, and have arranged on their upper part a tin or other metal lock or catch, E, bent'in the form shown, and having their two ends 0 a bent loosely around the wires of the loop, so that they will slideup and down thereon and cause the other point, d, to slide down between the holding-loops e e of the hook, and thus lock the base-piece O firmly between the clasp D and point d,.as shown. By this means the clasp is held securely in place, and prevents the possibility of the bottom becoming detached or loosened unless the locks b b are raised up, as at F, Fig.

1, when the hook may be bent back out of the When put back the too readily detached, so that if the cage should be by accident overturned the locks will remain intact.

This simple device overcomes the great trouble of detachable bottoms which, with the present locks, are apt to becomeloose and fall to the ground, or leave an opening for the escape of the bird.

I claim- The plate E formed with the end 0 c for attachment to the clasp D, and with the point 01 for working between the wires 0 e ofthe clasp, as set forth, the several parts operating'in respect to each other and to the cage A and the bottom B, as herein shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed myname in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

/ GEO. J. MUNSCHAUER.

Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, (J. N. WOODWARD. 

